thank you so much for being here for roger ebert. that is all for this evening. "the rachel maddow show" starts now. good evening, rachel. >> good evening, chris. >>> i think the idea of patty cake with all the guests before you start. >> i will make a note now. >> that won't make sense tomorrow. >>> in hartford, connecticut today, it happened. it was a long time coming and in the most important way, it was too late but it did finally happen today. >> this is a profoundly emotional day, i think for everyone in this room and everyone watching what is transpiring today in the state of connecticut. we have come together in a way that relatively few places in our nation have demonstrated an ability to do. in some senses, i hope this is an example to the rest of the nation. certainly, to our leaders in washington, who seem so deeply divided about an issue such as universal background checks, where the country is not divided itself. when 92% of americans agree that every gun sale should be subject to a background check, there is no excuse for representatives or senator